Some old - some new:

When the medieval church fell in the early 1810s, some of the memorials were put aside and re-erected in the new church. Several of the Hungerford family were removed to Salisbury Cathedral. The present St Lawrence Church therefore includes memorials from the old Chantries, and the old church as well as new ones from post 1814.

The Indulgence Tablet

On the north wall, opposite the main entrance door:

A 550 day indulgence for those who pray for Sir Robert de Hungerford. There is much more under Indulgence Tablet.

Sir Robert de Hungerford, who died c1350

Robert de Hungerford died c1350. There is much more about this under Hungerford Effigy.

William & Ann Cheyney, 1762:

(On the north wall, to east of Children’s Corner, above the Hungerford effigy, top memorial).

Near this Place rest the Remains of William Cheyney, late of this Town, Aged 83.And of Ann his Wife, Aged 71.Who were barbarously murderedin their own House on the Eveningof the 11th of December 1762.

Learn hence, Reader, to reverencethe Ways of providence; and carefullyto number thy Days, consideringhow much the Uncertainty of Lifeis increased by the Villainy of Men.

The War Shrine:

The shrine to the Hungerford men killed on active service in the two World Wars. There are 60 names of the 76 names from the First World War on the Bridge Street War Memorial, and 24 names from the Second World War (of the 27 on the Bridge Street War Memorial). Follow this for more on War Memorials.

Rev Thomas Baker, 1765:

(Top): Rev Thomas Baker, 1765. 28 years vicar of Hungerford. Also his wife and his sister-in-law.

In the North Aisle liesthe Body of the Rev'd Thomas Baker, MA:28 Years Vicar of this Parish, who died 24th Oct 1763 Aged 54.Exemplary in his own Conduct, and a Faithful monitor to others,his Memory was respected by all who knew Him.And his loss Sincerely lamented byhis Affectionate Wife Susan,Daughter of the Rev'd George Stephens, Canon of Windsor.She died at Homiton in Devonshire, the 25th Oct 1785, Aged 74.Near the same Spot were Buried four of their Children wjo died Infants,the Rev'd Henry Stephens, MA: Brother of Susan Baker,who died 1st Jan 1753, Aged 33.and Also their Sister Frances Stephens,who died 10th Aug 1762, Aged 46.

If from his Flock the pious Priest may claimSome grateful Tribute to enbalm his name;From his own Doctrine let his Praise be saught;The best will Laud, who Practise what he taught..

George Church, 1797, widow Sarah 1819

(Middle):

Near this place repose the Mortal Remails ofMr George Church, of this Parish,who departed this life the 10th of March 1797,Aged 60 years.

He was a friendly, benevolent, and honest man.In the same vault is interred the body of his widowMrs Sarah Church;who died at Ramsbury, on the 7th day of December 1819at the advanced age of 82 years.She was pious, withour hypocrisy, charitable,without ostentation; and died the death of aChristian.

Mrs Helina Morgan, 1716

(Middle)

In Memory ofMrs Helina Morgan, Wife ofGriffith Morgan, Gent;Daughter of Robert Harvey ofStockton in the County Warwick, Esq.,Who Died Oct the 17th 1776:Aged 35 Years.

Also Robert MorganSon of the above SaidRobert and HeminaMorgan.

The Crest above this memorial is not the correct one! It is actually of the Clarke family. The Crest of the Morgan family is over the Clarke memorial, put there by the workmen when the church was rebuilt in 1816, as the gallery prevented the Clarke crest from being placed in the correct position! (see Inventory book in vestry safe, page 124).

Burma Star Association. 1941-45.

(Bottom left)

InEverlasting Memory of those who served and diedin S.E. Asia 1941-1945

When you go homeTell them of us and sayFor your tomorrowWe gave our today

Henry Hungerford, 1673

Within this ChancellLyeth the body ofHenry Hungerford, Esq, late ofStanden in this parish, third sonnof Sir Anthony Hungerford ofBlackborton in the County of Oxon by Dame Sarah his second wife.

He lived a single, pious, andunspotted life.

Imployed his time in the serviceof God and his Country.

Departed this life 23rd of May1673..

Eliza Lucas, 1804

(Bottom middle)

Infradeponuntur exuviae

ELIZAE LUCAS.summa pietate praeditaeHoc Marmor,

Jussu fratris moerentis,hic poniturut sciat ipse.

ut sciant defunctae amiciubilachrymas effundantOb: 1804.

Hilda DuCros, 1995

The board of remembrance:

In Memory ofHilda BeatriceDuCros1910 - 1995

Window: Three healing miracles: The leper (Matthew 8); Blind Bartameus (Luke 5) and the man through the roof (Mark 2).

Votive candle stand for Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, 1997.

James Hall, 1823 and Margaret Hall, 1848

(Corner north)

To the Memory ofJames Hall Esqrfor 30 years a Solicitor at Hungerford, Berks,(formerly of Buckland, in that County,)who departed this life on the 12th of February 1823,Aged 59 years and was buried in the chancel ofThe Parish Church of Little Bedwin Wilts.

Also of Margaret his widow,who departed this life on the 14th of January 1848,Aged 89 years, and was buried in the same chancel.

This tablet is erected as a tribute of affectionby their three children.

Sacred to the memoryof Sarah Major, wife ofThomas Major of Hungerford, Berks.who died the 18th of November 1836, aged 62 years.

Also of Mary Ann, an infant daughterof the said Thomas and Sarah Major,who died January the 4th 1813.

Also of Thomas Major, late Surgeonin the Royal Navy, and a member of the Societyof Apothecaries and the Royal College of Surgeonewho practised upwards of 42 years in this town.He died July 1st 1845, aged 72 years.

The remains of the above are interr'din this Parish Church Yard.

The grave of Thomas Major was one of those removed when the south west part of the churchyard was cleared in 1973.

Window: Palm Sunday: Luke 19

In Memory of Francis Stonehouse Esq,Late of Standen in this Parish, who ended an honest,virtupous, and unfeignedly pious lifeOct 24th 1758, aged 49 years.

Also of Mary his wife, who after 18 years widowhood(Employed in a truly maternal care of her family,and in a devout preparation for an happy immortality) departed this lifeFeb 27th, 1776, aged 67 years.

Also of George Stonehouse Esq,their son, who in the flower of his age,and adorned with every benevolentand manly virtue, diedMarch 15th, 1777, aged 38 years.

Also of Francis Stonehouse, Esq,Second son of the above Francis and Mary.He was a dutiful son, an affectionate brother,a good man, and a valuable friend.He lived beloved, and (much lamented)died January 24th 1779.Aged 35 years.

This monument is dated 1779, by Charles Harris, of The Strand, London. Little is known of Charles Harris's early life or where he was a student. It is thought that his work has great charm in the best 18th century tradition, with lavish use of coloured marbles and reliefs. (From the Dictionary of British Sculptures).

Henry Cundell, 1864

(Bottom)

Henry Arthur Cundell was born in Parsonage Farm on 11 Nov 1840, the third son of Henry and Letitia Cundell. In 1863 he left for South Africa and went into partnership with Thomas William Lyne. Once there, he took up residence at Barton Farm, Moor River, Port Natal. (Port Natal is now Durban).

On his 24th birthday, there was a terrible thunderstorm, and he was killed by a thunderbolt in his house. Two friends and a servant who were with him were knocked unconcious.

See the Photo Gallery above for photos of his grave, and what is thought to be the remains of the farmhouse at Barton Farm, now Geluksrus, Durban.

This tabletis erected to perpetuatethe Memory ofHenry Arthur, son of Henry Arthur andLetitia Cundell. Whose death was caused by lightning,November the 11th 1864, at his residenceBarton Farm, Moor River, Weenen, Port Natal.,in the 24th year of his age.

"In the midst of life, we are in death"

Betty Clark recorded the memorials in ST Lawrence Church for the HHA in the 1980s. She researched this memorial saying:

"I was intrigued - I have been to that part of South Africa and knew those terrible storms; I felt sure it was Mooi River not Moor. (Port Natal is now Durban).

I did a bit of detective work and finally wrote to Mrs. Shelagh Sp·ncer in Natal - Mrs. Spencer is in the process of writing a "Biographical Register of the British Settlers in Natal, 1824 - 1857". Although my enquiry was for 1864 she very kindly set about researching for me; I added my knowledge to hers and this is the story of poor Henry Arthur:- ·

Henry Arthur Cundell was born in Parsonage Farm on 11th November 1840 - the 3rd son of Henry & Letitia Cundell. He left for South Africa, presumably in 1863 and went into partnership with a Thomas William Lyne. He had paid two thirds of the money owing on the farm and would have taken full possession in January 1865.

Unfortunately, on November 11th 1864 there was a terrible thunderstorm and whilst sheltering in their farmhouse, Barton Farm, a 'thunderbolt came down the chimnney and killed Henry Arthur; two of his friends and a servant who was with him were knocked unconscious. According to the notice of his death in the Natal Courier his assets included land worth £89 - stock etc. £161 & £200 to the Natal Bank.

The whereabouts of his grave was not stated but Mrs. Spencer concluded that as the estate accounts mentioned £3.5 paid to a Mr. Brown for making the coffin he must have been buried on the farm. This is not an unusual thing when there is no church graveyard nearby and the bodies have to be buried quickly - and relatives were so far away. Henry senior and Letitia would not have had the news for several weeks.

Mrs. Spencer then found the location of the farm and very kindly went to see Mr. Buys, to whose family the farm has belonged since 1916. Mr. Buys was most interested and told her that there was an unmarked grave there and that he had been told by an old African that his Grandfather had told him that it was the grave of a white man who had been killed.by lightening. Mr. Buys also added that now he knew who it was he would fence it in properly."

See the photo of the grave in the Photo Gallery.

Pulpit:

Given by Elizabeth and Eleonora Lidderdae in 1891

Captain Francis Michell, 1866

Chancel, north, top:

Sacredto the Memory ofCapt Francis Michell,of Her Majesty's 41st Foot, Youngest son of the LateRev'd T.P. Michell, of Standen Hussey, Hungerford,who died at Southampton on the 27th of Oct'r 1866,in his 29th year of Consumption on his return from India. He is buried in the Cemetry at Southampton.

Also ofElixzabeth Juliana Michell,Widow of Thomas Michell Esq,and daughter of John Pearse, Esq,of Standen, who died Jan 8th 1856, in the 85th year of her age.

And of Catherine,Second daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Juliana Michell,who died April 1st 1855, aged 44 years.

Also of Anna Maria Michell,eldest daughter of the above namedwho died Feb 14th 1869, aged 76.and is buried at Speen.

Crest and shield: Four ships with crosses in chief (Patriarchal); 3 ships with crosses in base (patriarchal), divided by chevron. Crest: an arm bent immerging from a sleeve. A dagger clenched in the hand. Five drops of blood issuing. All surrounded by wreath of leaves and sprays of iris or lilies.

East window: The forgiving of Peter: John 21. 15-18. The five angels bear the text.

Window in memory of Rev Joseph Ball Anstice, 1894 for his 28 years service to the parish.

Christopher Michell, 1855

Chancel, south, top:

Sacredto the Memory ofChristopher Michell,Late Lietenant in Her Majesty's 49th Reg't of Foot,who died on the 14th of Sept 1855,of wounds received at the attack on the Redanat Sebastopol, on the 8th of the same monthaged 19 years.He is buried in the Cemetry on Cathcarts Hillin the Crimea.

Sacredto the Memory ofRev'd Thomas Penruddocke Michell,of Standen Hussey, Formerly Vicarof Histon, Cambridgeshire,who died on the 24th of June 1866,in his 70th year.

And ofRev'd T.H. Michell,Died October 24th 1890,Aged 63

Also ofArabella Juliana Michell,Died August 29th 1905,Aged 79.

Son and Daughter of the AboveRev'd T.P. Michell.

Charles Fry, 1983

Chancel, south, bottom:

In Memory of Charles Fry1906-1983

Faithfull Servant in this

Church for Forty Years.

This small brass plate on the south wall of the chancel was dedicated in Dec 1983 by Rev Graham Foulis Brown, curate during the incumbency of Rev Richard Kingsbury.

Charlotte Willes, 1807 and infant son Shippen Willes, 1796

Top:

Sacred to the Memoryof Charlotte Willeswife of John Willes Esq of Hungerford Park,and daughter of Charles Floyer Esqdescendant in direct lineof the Floiers of Floier-Hayes in Devonshire,who by grant from Henry 1st were established therein the year 1106.She died the 15th July 1807; in the 35th year of her age.

Her Elegance of Manners, Purity of Mind,and unaffected Piety,entited her to the Respect of All;Her domestic Virtues,and Attachment to her Family, for which she lived,secured to her the Love and Esteemof her Husband and Children.

Here also is interred Shippen Willes an Infant,Son of John and Charlotte Willes,who died 8th August 1796.

Monument made in 1807 by John Bacon, the younger, 1777-1859, son of John Bacon, RA, 1740-1799. John Bacon the youinger was never made RA. He went to the RA school where he won a silver medal, and in 1797 a gold medal for the Statue of Cassandra exhibited in the RA Exhibition. In 1818 he took over his father's pupil Samuel Manning, a monumental mason. The firm produced large numbers of dull and second-rate monuments and tablets. Most of the work being done in this partnership when Bacon had retired from the business. He traded on his father's name all his life, and died a rich man, realising that turning out memorial tablets was more lucrative than doing creative work on his own. (From Dictionary of British Scuplture 1660-1851).

Window: Our Lord in the Temple. Luke 1. 41-51.

Marianne Willes, 1809; Catherine, 1818; Charlotte, 1820

Corner, east, top:

Near this Place rest the Remains of .

George Coe Willes, 1921

Corner, east, bottom:

Near this Place rest the Remains of .

John Willes, 1837

Corner, south, top:

Near this Place rest the Remains of .

Window: The Wedding at Cana: John 1. 7.

Percy Richens, 1918

Under window:

Sacred to the Memory ofPercy Baron Richensborn in this Parish 31st July 1890who lost his life when serving inHM Submarine E.34 in the North Sea20th July 2918

The Path of the Just is as the Shining Light

John Hungerford, d.1729 and Mary Hungerford, d.1739

Top:

Here liesJohn Hungerfordof Lincolns Inn Esquiredescended from an ancient Hungerford Familywhich for nearly 500 yearslived in Wiltshire.He was a man skilled in affairseminent in counsel, upright, faithfulin the Senate a frequent and admired orator.He was a strenuous defender ofBritish rights & privileges.He studied polite literature.He was courteous & witty in this coursenor did his lively understandingoffend in any way the practiceof Christian virtues. He was a manof rare gentleness inasmuch as heclaimed as his special province to givesuccour to the afflicted and the needy.He assigned the whole of his propertygained by diligent industry to his |beloved wife Mary for life.After her death liberalbequests in testimony of his regardfor his friends he bequeather the remainder of his property as totwo thirds to Kings College Cambridge,and the remaining third third toThomas Mangly, Doctor of Divinity.His most sorrowing widow erected thismonument at her own cost.

Here lies buriedMary (Spooner)Wife of John Hungerforddescended from an ancient stockin Warwickshire.A woman modest, prudent and devout,a most diligent adherent to theneedy and courtesy and kindnesstowards all were unsurpassed.She loved her most affectionatehusband with equal ardourbeing united by similarity of tastes andunanimity of will.With him she lived inhappy union more than forty years.She departed this life on thesecond day of February 1739in the 68th year of her age.

John Hungerford was the last Hungerford to own the local manor of Hungerford Engleford. He had bought the estate in 1724 from William Hungerford, but after his death in 1729 the estate was broken up and sold in 1742-43.

John Hungerford, of the Cadenham branch of the Hungerford family, was son of Walter Hungerford, grand-son of Sir George Hungerford. He was a barrister at Lincolns Inn, a Bencher, Counsel for The East India Company & Member of Parliament for Scarborough 1692-95 and 1702-05, He died on 8 Jan 1729, and was buried in St Lawrence’s Church Hungerford one week later.

He left £16,000, and his extensive library went to Kings College, Cambridge, where there is a monument in his memory.

There is a memorial in St Lawrence’s Church to his manservant, Henry “Trusty” Capps.

In 1736-37 John Hungerford’s widow, Mrs Mary Hungerford, donated a service of five silver pieces to the church in his memory - two flagons, a large chalice, a paten, and a bread-holder 1?? – 1??). She died in 1739.

Captain Maurice Hissey, 1916

Bottom left:

In Loving Memory ofMaurice Henry Hissey(of North Standen)Capt 2nd Batt Royal Berkshire Reg'twho fell in action in theBattle of the SommerOctober 26th 1916.Age 32 years

Olive Portia Waring-Smith, 1982

Small window: St Osmond, St Lawrence and St Frideswide.

Ann Blackwell, 1891:

In memory of Annwife ofThomas Evans Blackwellwho died 7th July 1891Buried at Norwood

John Blackwell, 1840; Fanny 1840; Thomas Evans Blackwell, 1863

Right:

In Memory ofJohn Blackwell, Esq, C.E.for many years a residentof this town,who died Sept 28th 1840,aged 65 years.

And of Fanny, his wife,who died Feb'y 15th 1840aged 56 years.

They died at Hungerford, andwere interred in a vaultin the adjacent churchyard

John Blackwell was resident engineer on the Kennet and Avon between 1804 and his death in 1840. (Charles Dundas was, of course, Chief Engineer in overall charge of the building of the canal, along with many other major engineering projects around the country). He had built Avenue House in The Croft 1823-25 as his family home, later moving to Westfield Cottage, Parsonage Lane, where he died.

On his death in 1840, after 34 years working for the Canal Company, the committee erected a tablet to his memory. This was placed on Prison bridge, at the top of the Caen Hill locks, Devizes, as this was regarded as his greatest work.

See also: "The Kennet & Avon Canal" by John Clew, pp 73,95 and 98.

Following John Blackwell's death, the resident engineer was Thomas Blackwell, perhaps his son, commemorated below:

In Memory of Thomas Evans BlackwellEsq, C.E.Son of John and Fanny Blackwell,Late of Clifton,and of Montreal, Canada,Who died in London, June 25th 1863Aged 43 yearsand was interred inthe cemetry at Norwood.

Neil Hardwick kindly emailed (Jun 2017) the following additional information on the Blackwells: "I have been doing some work on John and Thomas Evans Blackwell who feature on a memorial in the parish church. Things aren't necessarily what they seem!

The memorial states that Fanny was his wife. Not so, his real wife Mary outlived him in his home town, Devizes, by approximately 9 years having born him nine children between 1792 and 1810. Fanny came on the scene sometime between 1810 and 1814 when she gave birth to a daughter Harriett. A further daughter, Louisa was born in 1817 and Thomas Evans came along in 1819.

John Blackwell had owned a house in Maryport Street, Devizes since 1805. In 1823 he rents out a third of it to a Mr Philips.Not now wanting the space it could reasonably be assumed that it was around this date that the Avenue Cottage was either bought or completed. Again conjecture, but the reason that he moved to Hungerford could have been to allow his son to take advantage of the free grammar school located across the Church Croft. Certainly Thomas Evans was of above average intelligence as indicated by his successful career later in life. His father indicates that his son had been favoured because his will explicitly excludes him, stating that "he has been well provided for during my lifetime". Incidentally, after their father's death his daughters Eliza and Louisa kept on living in Avenue Cottage before returning to Devizes.

Two question that are unanswered: "how do we know that Avenue Cottage was built by John Blackwell?" and " how did John Blackwell come to meet the Rev Thomas Evans, his Godfather?" Any help in answering these would be much appreciated.

All the foregoing was discovered as part of a project to uncover the Blackwell's involvement in Claverton Pumping Station."

Wendy Rafkan contacted the Virtual Museum (via Facebook) June 2018, saying that the marriage of John Blackwell to Fanny "did take place - in Burbage 23 Aug 1808. There was a John Blackwell who married Ann Rogers in 1791 in Devizes, but the John Blackwell canal engineer would have been only 16 and possibly younger at that time, so a 1791 marriage is unlikely!". Wendy added "I wanted to clear his name -- the fact that the Vicar of Froxfield was his son Thomas Evans Blackwell's godfather also argues against the idea that John and Fanny Blackwell were "living in sin..."!

Henry “Trusty” Capps, 1774

In the vestry, south wall:

To the Memory ofHenry Cappswho was many years Servant toJohn Hungerford Esqr,and who by his uncommon FidelityAcquired the Name of Trusty,his Charity whilst livingwas Extensiveand at his Death amongother Donations heBequeathed a considerableLegacyto the poor of this Parish.He dep'd this life Sept'r 191774Aged 81 years.

Henry Capps was the "trusty" servant of John Hungerford, whose memorial is recorded above. Henry died in 1774, leaving his legacy to the poor of the Parish. In 1782 the £50 legacy was used to re-build the Grammar School.

Edmund Clark, 1709

In the vestry, west wall:

In Memory ofEdmund Clarke Esqrlate an officer in the Rt Hon'ble theLord Staney's Regim't of Foot,who died in ireland ye 26th of Sept'r1709, & gave #120 to ye poorof this Parish.Fran's Popham & Fran's Goddard, Esq'rs, Trustees,Who caused this Memoriall.

The Crest above this memorial is not the correct one! It is actually of the Morgan family. The Crest of the Clarke family is over the Morgan memorial, put there by the workmen when the church was rebuilt in 1816, as the gallery prevented the Clarke crest from being placed in the correct position! (see Inventory book in vestry safe, page 124).

The monument, dated 1751, is by John Hicks (1726-1768), possibly the son of Jonathan Hicks (1675-1743). John Hicks is buried in Speen, Berkshire, where his father Jonathan is also buried. The monument to his father in Speen (a Cartouche tablet) was possibly also made by John. Information from the "Dictionary of British Sculptures 1660-1851"

Plaque to victims of Hungerford Tragedy of 1987

On the vestry wall (church side), near the vestry door is a memorial to the 16 people who were tragically killed on 19th Aug 1987. Dedicated 11 Feb 1988.:

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